If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

When Emily anxiously cuts her bangs with scissors in the middle of the night in season 3 of Emily in Paris, a gasp could be heard around the world. We’ve all been there. But of course, Lily Collins was only faking cutting her own hair with some faux pieces and the magic of television. In reality, her hairstylist Gregory Russell cut the chic fringe that would become the talk of the first part of the season.

Collins shared a video of her getting the big chop on Instagram and TikTok. “Not exactly trauma bangs… unlike Emily, I didn’t cut these myself! Big thank you to the master @gregoryrussellhair for inducting me into my fringe era and starting Emily’s new hair journey…” she captioned the video. You can hear Collins say these are her first bangs, which is hard to believe considering she’s experimented with everything from a pixie cut to a curly bob.

Source: Instagram

In fact, Collins recently shared how much she craves switching up her hair. “I had a life change haircut when I was, I think, 26,” she told The New York Times. “I cut all my hair off — it was a pixie haircut — and I went to the Vanity Fair Oscars party and people were like, ‘What happened?’” In another interview, she said she wanted to shed her long hair after finishing a role. This was in 2015 and if we remember correctly, she slayed that era.

Source: Instagram

It seems she’ll be keeping the blunt bangs around for a bit, as evident by her cute Christmas photo with her husband Charlie McDowell and their adorable dog.

In the wise words of Emily Cooper: “Sometimes people cut bangs when everything’s ok!”

Season 3 of Emily in Paris is now streaming on Netflix. What are you waiting for?

Increasingly,
we see the 50+ generation turning their hand to running their own business. For
some, it is because ageism has blocked their access to mainstream employment,
but for the vast majority, it is because they want the freedom as well as the
opportunity to give back to their community.

There
are a couple of definite advantages to running your own business in mid-life:

No Ageism at the Workplace

Ageism
is not a factor in entrepreneurship. If your customer wants your product or
service, they are not going to stop and ask how old you are.

Experience and Know-How

You
have a 30- to 40-year work history incorporating all the wealth of experience
that goes with it.

Large Network

You
have a network extending right back to when you started working. If you remain
in the same industry, or become a supplier to the industry you previously worked
in, you will also have a large body of industry knowledge which you can capitalize
on.

Bigger Scope

With
age comes perspective and the ability to see the bigger picture. This can be
extremely useful when you are starting up a small business. Without this
perspective, many small businesses flounder because they do not understand
where they fit in the global view.

More Opportunities to Build a Legacy

Most of us, when we reach this third chapter of our life, feel that we want to leave a legacy and are driven by a need to contribute or give back to the community that enabled us in our earlier years. Running your own business offers the opportunity to help others.

Whether
it is through mentoring the younger generations, offering employment to other
boomers, or simply filling an important need in the market, there are plenty
opportunities to utilize your skills and experience to make a meaningful contribution.

Flexibility in Working Hours

After
60, most of us are working to supplement an income, rather than to build investments, which allows us
flexibility.

For
example, Jess needs $1,000 dollars each month to bring her retirement income up
to the level where she can maintain the standard of living she had when she was
working full-time.

If
she decides to consult or coach at $50 dollars an hour, that means she is only
looking to sell 20 hours per month to bring in the income she needs. This
allows far greater flexibility in her work routine.

Meaningful Projects

Many
people who start businesses later in life begin by building on a passion or a
hobby which means it is much more inspirational.

Use Your Know-How as Building Blocks for Your Business

You
may not have much in the way of experience as an entrepreneur, but do not
downplay what you have learned over a life of working. Spending some time
working out what those skills are will stand you in good stead as you start
your own business when you retire.

Hindsight
is 20/20 vision, I know, but if I had thought all this through before I
retired, I would not have gone through a slump in income as I struggled to get
a hold in the marketplace.

There
is much you can do in terms of business planning and drawing up a marketing strategy
while you are still employed. In this way, as you walk away from your job, you
can transition smoothly to becoming an entrepreneur.

I
realise that if you are working full time and focussing on finishing projects
and succession planning it is not always easy to find the energy and time. But
you owe it to yourself, because starting your own business in mid-life can be
very rewarding.

Please take our short survey and help us improve Sixty and Me.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What would you do as an entrepreneur? Are you doing it? Why not?
What’s stopping you to fulfil your dream/passion? If you have already started
your own business, what benefits do you see? Please share with our community!

How often do you take note of different themes that encapsulate each stage of your life?

If you look closely at major turning points you have experienced, you will see consistent patterns and themes that serve as guideposts for your life’s choices.

A deeper awareness of patterns and themes that have influenced you, opens you up to your life’s throughline. This makes it easier to change the narrative of your life.

Why is this important for those of us over 60?

When you change your narrative, you improve the quality of your life in whatever area you choose.

In this second of a four-part series, we are going to separate the ‘why’ from the ‘what’ of emotionally jarring experiences that serve as transitions in your life.

The Distraction of ‘Why’

When an uncomfortable experience occurs, it’s normal to ask, “Why?” For those major, life altering transitions sometimes it is necessary and cathartic to understand why something occurred.

Unfortunately, far too often we unconsciously spend more time going down the rabbit’s hole of ‘why’ at the exclusion of healing emotional wounds from unwanted experiences.

Without that healing, it becomes difficult to learn and grow from transitional moments.

When you fixate on ‘why’ something happened, it opens you up to shame and blame. This distracts you from being able to fully understand the situation and how the lessons or gifts of it can be applied to improving your life now.

Benefits of Focusing on the ‘What’

It is easy to feel like a victim when you process difficult, transitional moments that changed you. This can breed internal contempt and foster criticism of yourself and those involved.

Therefore, when you don’t spend time focusing on the ‘why’ it’s easier to recognize important themes and patterns in your life.

Here are three immediate benefits of focusing on the ‘what’ of an experience:

1. Examining the ‘what’ of an experience is more objective.
2. When you focus on the ‘what’ it isn’t as emotionally charged as ‘why’.
3. The ‘what’ of an event is emotionally neutral, whereas focusing on the ‘why’ calls your judgment into question, prompting criticism and shame.

To better understand the value of focusing on the ‘what’ of a situation, let’s look at an example of a romantic breakup.

Going from the Accuser to Observer

In emotionally jarring transitions, like a romantic breakup, it is common to find yourself on the slippery slope of a “he said, she said” scenario.

This usually involves a series of accusatory questions that all begin with ‘why’.

• “Why did you do this?”
• “Why can’t you be more _______?”
• “Why don’t you do more of _______?”
• “Why is this happening to (us) or (me)?”

After the smoke clears from the transition, many people face a dark abyss of trying to make sense of more ‘why’ based questions.

These questions include but are not limited to:

1. ‘Why’ did the relationship not work?
2. ‘Why’ did I choose this person as a partner?
3. ‘Why’ am I not good enough to keep the relationship thriving?
4. ‘Why’ did my partner not live up to expectations?

Now that you know how things turned out, rather than focusing on the ‘why’ shift your attention to examining the ‘what’ of the experience. This allows you to observe the journey of the relationship instead of judging it.

When you go from the accuser or victim to the observer you bring yourself closer to discovering patterns and themes in your choices. This uncovers the throughline of not only your life but also reveals the theme of any stage of life.

Being clear on your throughline is essential to changing the narrative of your life in 2023 and beyond. This new narrative opens you up to a new and healthier relationship with yourself and even another romantic partner.

How It All Fits Together

Observing the ‘what’ of a transitional experience offers a unique vantage point to spot overlooked details that are often difficult to focus on when you are emotionally triggered.

The benefits of focusing on the ‘what’ and not the ‘why’ go beyond romantic relationships. They apply to every area of your life and can heal lingering emotional wounds from your childhood to any point after 60.

As you approach this new year, there has never been a timelier moment to begin applying this process to an area of your life in need of a new narrative in 2023.

To help integrate what you are learning, I invite you join me in the companion video for this article. I will share additional insights and guide you through three journal prompts.

Please take a moment to fill in our short end-of-year survey. We will greatly appreciate your opinions and suggestions!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What life turn has had you asking yourself ‘Why?’ Do you think the why questions have helped you figure out what is happening in your life and how to move on?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

If you have your foot, heck, even your pinky, in the door of the skincare world, then chances are you’ve heard about retinol. It seems like there’s nothing hotter on the market right now than products that include this anti-aging and skin-clearing ingredient. But, it’s kinda hard to understand how to use it and where to put it on your skin.

See, retinoids are chemical compounds that boost the speed of skin cell turnover to help you shed everything from blemishes to scars. The vitamin A-derived compound is a fan-favorite of dermatologists and skincare obsessives alike for its ability to diminish the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots, as well. But, because it’s a chemical exfoliant, if you don’t use retinol properly, it can wreak some serious havoc on your skin. We’re talking about shedding spots, dry patches and, in extreme cases, burns.

RELATED: The Dark Spot Treatment That Faded My Spots & Scars Overnight Is Down to $19

To avoid those mishaps, Peace Out Skincare developed a simple solution. It’s a retinol stick that allows for you to pinpoint exactly where you apply the product, and helps you avoid applying too much of it. And since the brand’s New Year’s Sale has officially dropped, this is your last chance to snag the product (among other bestsellers) for less this year. Everything is 35 percent off, plus you also get free shipping.

You might have heard of the brand before—it produces the extremely effective pore strips that went viral on TikTok. The face stick includes a 3 percent retinol blend, (most retinol products have anywhere from two to 10 percent, and experts agree that those with at least 2.5 percent of the ingredient will be effective in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes) as well as fruit complexes that nourish and altar your skin in one fell swoop.

Designed to work with any skin type—oily, combination, dry, you name it—the retinol stick is best for those who have skincare concerns revolving around fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, discoloration and droopiness. The applicator takes the guesswork out of applying the right amount of product to your skin, since you simply have to swipe it on to experience the impact. This makes implementing retinol into your routine so much less intimidating, shoppers say.

“I love this product because I get the benefits of retinol without the oily mess,” wrote one shopper who previously relied on serums. “I love this and recommend for those who have naturally oily skin, or anyone who doesn’t like having extra oils on.”

Even those who have never used retinol before have major success using it. 

“I am 23 and just starting to create an anti-aging skincare routine and this product has really helped me do that,” wrote one reviewer. “It’s easy to use, easy to travel with, and SO CUTE! I was also worried about irritation, being a first-time retinol user but this product was ultra gentle and non-irritating, so that is a huge bonus for me!”

Courtesy of Peace Out Skincare.

Though the product is brand new to the market, this “magic wrinkle eraser” is already getting rave reviews by users and experimenters alike.

According to a consumer study, 100 percent of participants (seriously) said their skin felt smoother after a month of using the retinol stick compared to how it felt before they began using the product. What’s more, 92 percent of users said their fine lines and wrinkles looked softer and less noticeable. That’s not all, though. In just two weeks, 81 percent of testers said their skin seemed firmer. That’s about as instant as skincare results can get.

Use it under your eyes to get rid of droopiness, dark circles and fine lines. Or, apply it on your forehead to get rid of those valleys that never seem to go away when you raise your brows.

“I have noticed that my fine lines appear to be plumper and more hydrated after about a week of use,” wrote one user. “This makes me feel confident that they will improve even more with consistent use, so I will gladly continue to use this product for the foreseeable future.”

To use the face stick, apply it to areas of concern after cleansing and moisturizing your face at night. Make sure to use SPF the next morning; skin is more prone to getting sunburn when retinol is applied to it. If you have super sensitive skin, the brand recommends doing a patch test first before implementing it into your nighttime routine up to two times a week.

Once your skin is used to it, sit back, relax and wait for the results to appear. You’ll be shocked at what you’ll see. Score this unique and effective formulation for 35 percent off during the brand’s New Year’s sale, where everything across the site is fair game.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

I’ve covered just about every Hailey Bieber-loved beauty product under the sun. Well, at least I thought I did. I just realized I’ve never written about her go-to mascara, but that’s going to change right this second. The model recently revealed her fave formula to her TikTok followers and it’s none other than Milk Makeup’s Kush High Volumizing Mascara. 

This comes as no shock since Hailey is already a fan of the brand. She has previously used Milk Makeup’s Bionic Liquid Blush and Kush Fiber Eyebrow Gel and is now on to the brand’s mascara. Though the silver tube makes a very brief cameo in her birthday GRWM TikTok, you can see her lightly swiping on mascara, especially to the lashes on the outer corner of her eyes.

@haileybieber

Grwm for my birthday in Tokyo

♬ Rich Flex – Drake & 21 Savage

Her eyelashes look so fluttery thanks to the Kush High Volumizing Mascara and that’s probably because the volumizing formula contains hollow heart-shaped fibers that make lashes appear longer, fuller and thicker. It also incorporates hemp-derived cannabis seed oil to condition the hairs, as well as vegan beeswax to keep the fibers in place (a.k.a. no raccoon or panda eyes due to fallout and smudging).

The mascara applicator also deserves some credit since it features unique crisscross bristles that grab onto each of your lash hairs from root to tip. There’s nothing better than a mascara that applies even coats.

It’s time to swap your current mascara for Milk Makeup’s Kush High Volumizing Mascara that’s Hailey Bieber-approved and $26 at Sephora.

RELATED: This Mascara Is So Volumizing, Reviewers Warn: ‘Don’t Get Lash Extensions Before You Try This’—Snag It For $9 While You Can 

Photo: Milk Makeup.

Hailey isn’t the only one who swears by this volumizing mascara.

One Sephora shopper wrote, “Is there a magic mascara that provides volume and length; yep because this is it!” They add, “Start with a really good primer (for me good ‘ol L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise base fits the bill), use a really good lash extender every night, and this will serve you really well. I’ve literally tried every mascara that exists, and always come back to my Milk Kush! Pure Love!!”

Another shopper compares the Kush High Volumizing Mascara to one of her tried-and-true formulas. “I have been a hardcore Better Than Sex girl for at least a decade. Love the fullness it gives my lashes. No convincing me otherwise. Mascara is a subjective choice,” they wrote. “I do not know how the Sephora goddess talked me into the trial-size Kush but I thank her. The serum aspect just gives that extra bit of softness but does not compromise the wear time aspect. Bottom lashes pop without clumping. I’ll be back for more Milk!”

These are some seriously impressive reviews, and the results are evident in Hailey’s TikTok. Now, all that’s left for you to do is add the Milk Makeup mascara to your cart for $26.

And if you’re curious to try Hailey’s other Milk Makeup faves, check two of them out below.

Photo: Milk Makeup.

Milk Makeup Bionic Liquid Blush

Photo: Milk Makeup.

Milk Makeup Kush Fiber Eyebrow Gel